Family Time: 'Fancy Nancy' musical debuts at Symphony Hall

Join the little girl in extravagant dress and fuzzy boa who adores all things fancy when the character from a popular children's book takes the stage Saturday at Allentown's Miller Symphony Hall in her first musical.

In "Fancy Nancy: The Musical," the title character will have to figure out how to give a boring role as a tree her typical fancy flair. The show is based on the "Fancy Nancy" books written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser.

The production by the Vital Theatre Company of New York City is directed by Sam Viveritio and features original songs by Susan DiLallo and Danny Abosch.

In the show, Fancy Nancy and her friends Bree, Rhonda, Wanda and Lionel will perform in their first show, "Deep Sea Dances." Nancy is positive she and Bree will be picked to be mermaids, and when another girl wins the coveted role, Nancy is stuck playing a tree and has to make it fancy even though it's not the role she wanted.

Shows are at 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for children and $20 for adults.

The Museum of Music, a puppet show with live classical music, returns to Saturday's Children family series this week at the Ice House in Bethlehem.

The program is a collaboration of Mock Turtle Marionette Theater and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra. The puppets, representing musicians throughout the ages, teach kids about styles of music from some of the world's greatest composers.

Children are introduced to American composers Louis Gottschalk and Duke Ellington, Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzola, classical greats J.S. Bach and Johannes Brahms, Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian and others. Music will be performed by Michael Toth on piano, Simon Mauer on violin, Debbie Davis on cello, Catherine DeBoeser on flutes and Karen ElChaar on percussion.

Music selections includes Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "Hungarian Dance" by Brahms, Mozart's "Magic Flute," "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin, "Take the A Train" by Billy Strayhorn, "Saber Dance" by Khachaturian and more.

The 10 a.m. Saturday performance will be followed by a puppet-making workshop.

Tickets are $5 for the show and $7.50 for the show and workshop combination. Info: 610-867-8208 or email doug@mockturtle.org.

Kids can create a colorful collage of Bethlehem's first house and then explore the museum's new exhibition, "Country Living: The Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse and Toy Collections," 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The program is included with Historic Bethlehem's Pass into History admission of $12, adults; $6, ages 6-13. The pass also includes admission to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and the Blacksmith Shop. Info: 610-691-6055 or http://www.historicbethlehem.org.